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by Deb Manikas (Author)
Most children nowadays would rather be playing video games or watching videos on a device. Well Grandpa has another idea! He wants to take his grandson fishing! The child grumbles and complains, but follows Grandpa down the path to the pond. Before they fish, Grandpa takes out the picnic lunch that Grandma prepared for them, only making the child more anxious to get back to video games.
Grandpa teaches his grandson the basic elements of fishing: baiting the hook with worms, casting the line, reeling in the fish and throwing the fish back into the pond. His grandson further disapproves: "What is the point of fishing if you have nothing to show for it?" With each complaint by his grandson, Grandpa just smiles. He even brings out his harmonica and plays a low, slow tune when the sun gets hot and the fish are not biting.
After a false-alarm, when the grandson reels in a pile of pond weeds, he finally catches a "sunny." He is so excited, but becomes deflated when Grandpa tells him that he has to throw the catch back into the pond. "Grrrr. Video games are much more exciting than this!, " the boy says. The grandson even offers to teach Grandpa how to play video games, suggesting that they could play together. Grandpa just smiles again.
Grandpa shows his fishing prowess by catching three fish, including a large-mouth bass. Not impressed, his grandson is bored, hot and tired of slapping at mosquitos.
Once they pack up for the day, Grandpa and his grandson head home, stopping for a cold treat. The pair go fishing several more times that summer, and the boy admits that fishing is "okay" now.
One day, the grandson goes fishing alone at their favorite spot on the pond. The boy knows exactly what to do: bait the hook, cast the line and wait patiently. Grandpa just smiles in approval from heaven.
Readers can engage with the text by finding hidden letters on each page that answer the question as to what Grandpa has created for his grandson, besides becoming a "fisherman." The letters spell out the word: MEMORIES.
